Collapsible support for diffusion-battery-cell chains



Mays, 192s. 1,669,288

E. HT CROFOOT COBLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FoR DIFFUSION BATTERY CELL CHAINSFiled Nov. 2'?. 192e s sheets-snm 1 May s, 192s. 1,669,288 E. H. cRQFooTv COLLPSIBLE SUPPGRT FOR DIFFUSION BATTERY CELL CHAINS Filed Nov. a?.1-92'6 3 sheets-snee*v 2 WA f3 VL f Mays, 192s.

E. H. cRoFooT COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR DIFFUSION BATTERY CELL CHAINSFiled Nov. 27. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 8`, `1928. l i

uNrrE-DsrATES N y 1,669,288 PAT ENT OFFICE.

ooLLArsIBLn SUPPORT ron nrrrusronnnrrnnY-onrn CHAINS. l

Application mea November 27.1926. seran no. 151,9455. c,

ited toy this use, as the principles ofthe in-v vention can be utilizedfor other` pu1p0ses, as will readily appear in the followingdescription.

In broad terms the invention comprises a collapsible support. mountedWithinv a d iffusion battery or cell and provided with means operatedexternally of the cell for `causing the support to assume its extendedposition, orpermit the support to be collapsed when desired. y y y Thepresent invention has a Vnumber of objects and accomplishes la number ofimproved results.y The objects of thel invention are listed below andthe manner 1n which they are accomplished will be-pointed out in thefollowing description.

One object of the invention is to provide an increased capacity-for thebattery or cell. Another `object of theinvention is` to accomplish theyremoval'of more sugar from the matterbeing Workedmupon in the cells. AfurtherV object of the invention is to provide a support yforthe matterin the cell and to construct the support in a manner whereby the supportcan becollapsed and thus permit easy and rapid removal of the matterfrom the cell. c i y A further object ofthe invention is toprovide meansforagitatingthe matter or pulp `being worked upon in thecell, soas todistribute the pulp thereinuniformly where-` by the sugar can be washedand extracted from the pulp with ythe use of less waterand in a shortertime.` i 4 Another object of the invention is to inf crease theproductionof a battery cell and` consequently, theplant in which thecell 1s' installed, and to effect a very material savingof coal, orother heating medium", used by the plant, i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a collapsiblesupport fork chains in a battery or cell, the operation of 'which iscontrolled by power at thewill of the operator,`which will permit therapid' and easy ejection of the pulp from the cell and will requireitheuse of `less wash-water to bringabout the ejection l A still furtherobject of the kinvention is tohold the material in the battery or cellyin suspension andy therebyjincrease the rapidity of the ,dilution andLvery materially reduce the amount of4 dilution 'Water :required toeffectthe extraction.

Other objects, novel features; of construc- ,y

-tion and improved results of the invention will be pointedfout inthefollowingdescrip-` tion 'and A4set forth in "the accornpanying drawings.y "y 1` In the Haccompanying drawings Figure lfis a view of the side'elevation of a battery or vcell having mounted `therein a support madein accordance with the in# vention. y f l j n i Fig. 2 is a topyplanview` of Figure l. n Fig.` 3 is a sectional. vView showing 'themanner'in which the `.support arms" are atf tached' 'to vthe verticalksupport column.` l

Fig. jis an enlarged viewfin verticalfsection ofthe vupper end of thesupport, the parts being shovvngin the positions they jassume whe'nfthesupport is collapsed. A battery cell"r A, is used in connection withtheinvention;` This batterycell is ordinarily. supported' in Isonnisuitable manner belowa flooring or platform 5, and ,is` providedat itsvupper end withfa door 6, and at its 'lower end with a downwardlyswinging door 7. vThe cell, as appears in the drawings, is) ordinarilyacylindrical drumbeing A V set vertically,` the upper and lower" ends ofthe drum being funnel-shapedas at 8,`ad jacent the'L upperandlowerdoors. The beet cossettes, or other material' :from Whiclrthesugar istofbe 'extracte d is placed in the cell through the upper door6, and `ejected from the cell through "the bottom door or trap 7. `Waterunder pressure is delivered tothe upper end of rthe cell from a suitablesource. of supply through the 'pipe 9, and afterpa'ssing through thematerial in the cell leaves the lower end of the cell through thepipeilO. The lower',funnel-shaped'end ofthe cell is 'provided with ascreen 1l, supported in separated' relation from the cell sides bysuitable spacesfl. Thisscreen also kextends over the innersurface orvface of the drop door or gate`7 and prevents the clogging of the outletpipelO. I'

Thel construction,` heretofore described, is

one that is common and well-known in the art.

The present invention comprises, in general terms, a vertical support'column B, ay base-supporting bar C, a cylinder D, a series ol?supportingv arms E, F, G, H and J, a

series ot supporting and lifting chains K, L

and M, and a piston rod N, having at one end a piston O, and at itsopposite end a spider P.

In describing the invention in greater detail, it will be seen that thesupporting base or bars C have their outer ends suitably fastened as at13 to the cell walls, while their inner ends are attached as at 14 tothe outwardly extending portions 15 of the cylinder D. The lower end otthe cylinder is closed by a suitable plug or fitting 16, providedcentrally with an opening'or channel 17, to which is connected the pipe18 for carrying hydraulic pressure.

The piston O is mounted tor reciprocation in the cylinder D and thepiston rod N ezxtends upwardly throughthe cylindertop 19, to a pointnear the top ot the cell, carrying on its upper end the spider' or yokel?, which is held in place by bolts 2O or the like. The piston rod isadapted to move in the hollow vertical supporting column B, the lowerend 21 ot which is supported in the cylinder top 19, making therewith awater-tight connection. The upper end of the column B is closed by a cap22, having threaded connection as at 23, with a sleeve 24, which in turnis threaded upon the upper end of the eol-v umn 25. The cap 22 isprovided with an inwardly extendingr peripheral flange or shoulder 26,between which and the upper end ot the column is interposed a slidingcollar 27, having a lower beveled edge 28, adapted to engage suitablepacking 29 supported on the upper end ot the column. It will be clearlyseen that by tightening the cap 22 downwardly upon the sleeve 24, awater-tight closureis provided `for the upper end of the column.

To prevent the downward movement of the yoke P, upon the piston rod N,this rod is reduced in size as at 30, adjacent its upper end so that theyoke rests upon the shoulder 31 of the rod.

At intervals throughout the length ot the column B, there are providedcollars R. As clearly appears in Fig. 3 of the drawings, these collarsare made in semi-circular halt portions v32 and 33, being held inclamped position upon the column by reason of the bolts 34. When thecollars are in place, they provide four outwardly extending yokes 35, inwhich are pivotally supported by bolts 36 or the like, the reduced ends37 ot the supporting arms E, F, G and H. In their preferable form, thesesupporting arms are made ot hollow tubing, and the ends 37 areextensionswhich are attached internally of the tubes by suitable fastening means,such as appears at 38. y

From the toregoing it will be understood .that each collar It carriedtour supporting arms arranged at angles oic 900 in respect to oneanother. Attention is directed to the tact that the collars are sopositioned upon the'column that the supporting arms carried by the topcollar will not be directly above the supporting arms carried by thesecond collar. rlhe sul'iporting arms carried by the third collarfwillbe directly beneath those carried by the .first collar, while the`supporting arms ot the tourth collar will be directly beneath thosecarried by the second collar. ln this manner a network of the supportingarms is provided in the cell.

rthe lower-most collar R, which carries the supporting armsJ, is mountedupon the cylinder plug 16,- being held against slipping oit1 by a'suitable nut 39. [The supporting arms J are, et course, below the barsC.

lhe yoke P comprises tour outwardly eX- tending arms #10, and areprovided in their ends with suitable connections l-1, with dmvnwardlyextending chains K, -which are connected asat #13. with the tour supporting arms E. rllhe outer ends ot the supporting arms E, are in turnvconnected able chains L, with the supporting arms H, while the outer endof the supporting arms G have connection with the supporting arms J,through the medium ot'thev chains M. Each supporting arin isadditionally proifidedwitha chain +12, which hangs in an arc having oneoit its ends connected to the end of the supporting arm, while itsopposite end is attached to the collar B. The chains 42 of' the arms Eare additionally provided with dowi'iwardlyy extending chain connections4:3, which are attached to the supporting arms it. The outer ends ot thesupporting arms l? are connected to the sup porting arms G, through themedium ot chains 4:11'. y

'By reason loi" the chains K, li and M, chaines-.2. 43 and 44, it willbe seen that as the piston rod N isy raised` the' supporting arms `E,l`,`tl H and ,l will be raised and will .finally assume the horizontalpositions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereas when the piston rod kis in itslowerinost position, as appears in Fig. 4l, the supporting arms willhang parallel the supporting column B.

To effect the raising and lowering ot the piston, and consequently thepiston rod N and yoke l?, the pressure pipe 1 8 is carried outwardlylfrom the cell to a point ot suitable hydraulic ]'aressure supply (notshown) andk is provided with a three-way cock or valve 11-5, which inturn is provided with an elongated stem'll, which extends to a pointabove the flooring 5, where ther-e is provided a handle 7. 'There is noinvention in the three-way valve itself, as it is merely a valve bysuitvided' in the cell a collapsil'ile"supper-tier` the'chains which iscontrolled at thewillof the operator bythe `mereturningot the controlhandle 47.

It will bereadily seen that the supporting arms and the net-'Work ofchainsA will suspend to a largepdegree the material yinthe cell andpreventv its packing upon the cell screen l1. Theinvention'isnot'limited to the particular arrangement of the chainsshown an'ddescribed, as additional chains can he added for supportingthefinaterial Without departing `from thec'spirit" ot? the invention. i*f' It has been found that'thecloser'the inaterial is packed into thecell Withoutsag ging down, thebetterwthe extraction. As a cellordinarily holdsabout iive tonsojtmaterial, it will bereadilyrealizedthe import `ance of suspending the material, so'that theWater' can reach all partsfofit and,`there fore, effect a much betterextraction than would be possible were'the lu'ho'le `Weight rested. uponthe celhbottom;` Furthermore,`

with the entire Weight of the mass upon the cell bottom and screens`,`itwould probably pack so tight that ythe Watercou'ld* not be `forcedreadily through the mass which, in

additionto meaning poor extraction would also stopup to a large vdegreethe escape 'olf water through the outlet pipe l0.``

y After the extraction'process, Whichytakes place Within the tightlyclosed `cell,1`no' op-` portunity being possible to eXa'niinethev acHtion within or knowing how tlioroufrhlvit Y Ae: p es has been done theto and bottom tra as and i doors 6 and 7 are opened, theWatensuppliedthrough the pipe 9`f-havi`ngiirst been cut oil.

The ejection lof the` pulp 'or `matteraiow ,takes place. "VVith cellsnow lriiou-"ii` fand used,`it` has been found that the material inthecell has become clogged yand, thata great dealfof Work-isfrequiredto"dislodge `it and start its movement throughfthe bot` tomdoor opening 7. That -thispis `true will be readily realized when it isconsidered that there is lin the cell approximately five tons of Wetmass,` approximately'ten feet deep, and that this mass "is *stuck tastinthe cell. It has been found thatfoftentimesthis mass moves downwardlywith some persuasion, Which is assistedby a'stream 'of Water under highpressure,- Which isfdirected lupmo the mass throughthe 'open upperdoo'rw.

In the cells now; known, the material islsupf ported, duringtheextracti'on process, by

stationary chains Withinfthe cell' and -itf -has been i found i thatafter the bulk ofthe ymass has passed-out a great-ildealofwash-Waterisrequiredtoremove the@ material `which remains clinging/tothechains andside Walls oft-he cellsAk f f *l -With` the `present*invention thesedisadvantages are overcome. 'lVith the bottom door of the cell openV andsupporting "arms andchai'nscan `be dropped which :Williimmediatelydislodge the' mass and. start `it downward through the Ibttom outletopening. Ithas been foundltliat 'practically fthe entirewmassisimmediately dislodged and starts downward. The'smallflamount'of matterremaining clingingtothe chains Aand `side Walls Will require a'lverysmall quantity of wash-Waterfto ythoroiigh'lyf'cleanv them. Y

lt'i's one lof.. the primary functionsl of this invention tostart thisdropof theomatter or-pulp rquickly and to urge it alongby the' movementof the`movable supportin' arms and' 1thu/sreliminate` a# very,considerable `amount of Work,\a large 'volumeof Wash-` water,andconsiderable time, which mythe extraction of"sugar isalarge item; By

rea-son ot tlie great weight restingl"on the chains and' thesupportingarms,l it will lbeV i readilyfseen that immediately the pressurebeneathl the [pistonv O is releasedthat these members lwill dropimmediately y `ifhdrain valve 419 is provided for the column-B to drainanywater from thecolumnj which ymay enter it past: the plston. This `1sf desirablevfor Werefitfnot released, kthis water would become foulafter a time. v

,'lo `e-fectwa` packing of `the materials in ythe" cells, duringftheloadingy process,which is very desirable,; theifarms 2 and supportingchains lare; occasionally raised and lowered and will insure aneffective packing yof the cell: The raising and:loweringofl these armsand chains during the"processof'extractin which agitate'the materialand' oviferall surfaces oft/the Cossette yto thefdilutionorf-extraction;ofi' vwater, `thereby? effecting a most 'rapidandtlrorough'extraction`By y.rcaSoI-i of' the movable features ofthe device, and the vexternalcontrol'makingthe operationvofothe device :possible while the cell `isunder pressure, audits vmaterial?aid in unloading the cell, ,itl will be`seen that .byfusesaofmultiples otthedevicefin a sinf gielA rfce'll or.a-successoir` "cells, i one vabove :the fotl'ier, Livit-h the adaptationof methods for e ec `no1-the Jul) after vextract-ion is -`completeasWelli as :methods of loading 1 the material in theuppci cell, orcel-ls,1t lispos-` sible and*feasible` to e'leota continuoi'ls'ex `traction iprocess fwhich ivouldibe highly effi# cieiit,cconomical and.rapid.- y lFrom4A the foregoing, it; will bewseen ythat many advantagesaccruethrough th`euse` fof Ithis"invention. n vDue .tto the v,eiiectiveagitation `ont the @materialea greater `amount/0f ysugar is]` lobtainedin,v the.` `extraction *process By holding the material in suspension,the extraction process is `greatly shortened and the amount of dilutionywater required to eifect extraction is materially reduced.v By reasonof the unloading aid given by the invention a great amount ot time andlabor is saved in thisstep and the volume of waslrwater is materiallyreduced. At the same time the cell is notout o operation tor as long atime as has been the case heretofore. The. reduction ot the amount ofdilution water'necessary to etlect the extraction will effect a verymarked reduction in the coal necessary for this step in the process. Thecost of coal usedvin the evaporation or extraction process constitutes alarge item asY to the cost ot obtaining sugar. l

Having ythus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: .Y y i l. The combination with `the cells. of adiffusion battery of supports mounted in said cells, said supportscomprising a series o't arms, and means to move said arms into and outott supporting positions.

The combination with the cells of a diffusion battery of collapsiblesupports in said cells, and means for moving saidsupports 3. Thecombination with the cells of a diliusion battery of collapsiblesupports in said cells', means for moving said supports from lcollapsedto extended positions, and said operating meansl controlled externallyot the cells. r

et. The combination with the cells of a diffusion battery of collapslblesupports inv said cells, and pressure operated means tor moving thesupports from collapsed to extended positions.

5. The combination with the cell ot a dilfusion battery, of acollapsible support in said battery, said support comprising a verticalcolumn and a plurality of supporting members,'said supporting memberspivotally mounted in respect to said column, and means for swinging saidsupporting meinbers from collapsed to extended positions.

6. The combination with the cell ot a diffusion battery ot' acollapsible support in said cell, said support comprising averticalcolumn adapted for reciprocation, a series of supporting armspivotally mounted in respect to said column, and means for reciprocatingsaid column, whereby the supporting arms are swung from collapsed toextend-ed positions.

7. The combination with the cell of a difusion battery ot a collapsiblesupport in said cell. said support comprisingr a Vertical column havinga series of supporting arms pivotally mounted in respect thereto, avertical reciprocating member in the vertical column and havingconnection with the supporting arms, supporting chains suspended fromcollapsed to extended positions.`

from saidsupporting arms, `and .means for reciprocating the said movablecolumn, whereby the supporting arms and chains are moved l,fromcollapsed toextended positions.

8. The combination with `the cell lof a dilfusion battery ot avcollapsible support in said cell, said support coniprising a hollowvertical column having a series of supporting arms pivotally mounted inrespect thereto, each series ot arms comprising tour arms positioned atangles ot 90 in respect to one another, the supportingarms ot" thealternate series positioned in respect to itsadjacent series ot supportingarms in a manner whereby none of its supporting arms are directly inline with the supporting arms of the adjacent series, a verticalreciprocating member in the vertical colmnn and having connection withlthe supporting arms, and means for, reciprocating `said: movablecolumn, wherebyy the supporting arms are moved from collapsed toextended positions.

9. The. combination with the cell of a diffusion battery having anoutlet opening in its bottom, oi a support in' said cell, said supporthaving movableL arms adapted to support the material in the cell and toaid the ejection ofthe material from the cell, and means :tor movingsaid supporting and ejecting arn'is.. i 10. The combination with thecell o a diffusion battery, out a collapsible support in said cell. saidsupport comprising a vertically'i'i'iovable member and a plurality ofsupporting members pivotally mounted in respect thereto, a vcylinder insaid cell, the vertically movable member` provided with a piston adaptedfor reciprocation in said` cylinder, means tor conveying pressure tosaid cylinder and permitting the escape of pressure from the cylinder.'and means external ot the cell ttor controlling the admission'andescape of the pressure.

ll. The coi'nbination with the cell of a diffusion battery oit a .memberin said cell for supporting, agitating kand ejecting the material in thecell. said member having a plurality of movable armsand means `forimparting movement to saidarms when desired.y y l y l2. The combinationwith the cell of a diffusion battery ot afcollapsible support in saidcell, said support comprising a vertical columnvand a plurality ofsupporting members pivotally mounted. in respect thereto, and means forimparting upward and downward movement to saidfsupporting members,whereby said members support, agitato and eject the material inthefcell.y

13. The combination with the cells of a diffusion battery, of supportsmounted in said cells, each of said supports comprising a series ofarms, and pressure operatedv means to move said arms into and out ofsupporting posit-ions. f

14. The combination with zt cell of a diffusion battery, of acollapsible support in said battery, said support comprising a verticalcolumn and a plurality of supporting members, said supporting memberspivotally mounted in respect to said columinend pressure means for.movingsad supporting members from collapsed to extended positions. l

l5. The combination with u cell of u diffusion battery, of a collapsiblesupport in of supporting arms pivotally mounted in` respect to saidcolumn, and pressure means 15 for reciprocating said columnV whereby thev supporting `arms are moved upwardly and downwardly and swung fromcollapsed to extendedrpositions.

In testimonyv whereof I hereunto ax my 20 signature.

EDWIN H. CROFOOT.

